Service to God and country run deep with the O’Malley family. With generations having served in either the armed services, law enforcement or the fire department, they know what it means to work for and protect something larger than themselves. Service can take many different forms and for Brian O’Malley it just happened to include danger, excitement and crushing records.
This sentiment formed a culture that has built an unbreakable bond featuring the support and love that only a family brings. Brian and Shelley O’Malley, both Navy veterans, have always been committed to their loved ones. Therefore, when their daughter Lauren was stationed at Norfolk Naval Station, unaccompanied by her Marine Corps husband, Jared, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, there was no question that they would buy a home in Norfolk. This way they could support their daughter in her endeavors, while simultaneously maintaining roots in Georgia. Shelley works at Delta in Atlanta so you’ll find them commuting back to Marietta and their North Georgia home in Hiawassee almost every week.
You can find these examples all over the O’Malley Family tree. Where greatness abounds, greatness follows and the O’Malley bunch of five stick together. So, when Brian was presented with a volunteer opportunity to assist the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, he and his family were excited to support their efforts.
Through the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, veterans and first responders can find support through initiatives such as providing mortgage-free homes, retrofitting existing homes to accommodate the catastrophically injured and eradicating veteran homelessness. Tunnel to Towers has also just broken ground to build the “Atlanta Veterans Village” in Mableton, Georgia, a residential facility that will house nearly 100 homeless veterans upon completion. The project will feature long-term apartments, transitional housing, a gym, a cafeteria and a business center.
However, as life sometimes goes, Brian was confronted with major back surgery in 2024. As he recuperated, he found You Tube videos about climbing Mt. Everest inspirational. Brian recalls, “I started watching these videos when I was rehabbing and it just grabbed me. I said to myself, ‘man, you could do this’”!
Brian knew this would be a fantastic opportunity to support Tunnel to Towers and began his efforts along with his climbing partner and brother-in-law, Steve McDaniel, Air Force veteran and retired Georgia police officer, to raise money for the cause. With this, they both trained to climb the highest mountain in the world.
This past March Brian and Steve trekked to Base Camp and Brian is now scheduled to go back for the climb to the top of Mount Everest this spring. He will train with a team who has invited him to climb with them and will be the oldest climber on the expedition. In fact, Brian will be the third American over sixty to climb Mount Everest. Brian relays, “If I can complete this challenge, I will also be the oldest Georgian to have climbed Mount Everest”. Although there is danger, pain and uncertainty involved, Brian couldn’t be more excited about the chance to help an organization that gives so much.
Many will be rallying behind Brian, but no one will be cheering louder than his family as they pray for him and read every Facebook post. Follow along Brian O’Malley’s journey through t2t.org and on Facebook.
“If I can complete this challenge, I will also be the oldest Georgian to have climbed Mount Everest”-Brian O'Malley